Travers was a chorister at the Chapel Royal under John Goldwin, was taught by Pepusch, and was apprenticed to Maurice Greene. He held the post of Organist at the Chapel Royal from 1737 until his death. This piece is one of six three-part canzonets published in Travers' "Eighteen Canzonets", London, 1746. This collection was an early and popular contribution to works in the canzonet style, and helped set the template for writers of more ambitious glees in the second half of the eighteenth century. The original edition contained a particularly meticulous figured bass. That has been abandoned in the present edition in favour of a reduction. These canzonets were incorporated into the glee tradition, and are most appropriately performed in accordance with that tradition; unaccompanied.

Lyrics: Anacreon (trans. Sir Thomas Stanley)

Old I am, yet can (I think) Those that younger are out-drink; When I dance, no staff I take But a well fill'd Bottle shake: He that doth in war delight Come and with these arms let's fight; Fill the Cup, let loose a flood Of the rich Grape's luscious blood; Old I am, and therefore may Like Silenus drink and play.